CU-NASA Research Center to Study Sun’s Effects on Earth’s Climate
Image of sun courtesy of NASA. |
The University of Colorado at Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., today announced the formation of a new collaborative research center dedicated to the study of the sun’s effect on Earth’s climate.
The center, called the Sun-Climate Research Center, or SCRC, will be co-directed by LASP Research Scientist Peter Pilewskie as well as Robert Cahalan, who heads Goddard’s Climate and Radiation Branch, and Douglas Rabin, head of Goddard’s Solar Physics Laboratory.
“The exciting thing about this collaboration is that we believe it will promote studies to help answer key questions about the climate system, including how Earth’s atmosphere responds to the sun’s variability and how that affects climate,” said Pilewskie, a faculty member in CU-Boulder’s atmospheric and oceanic sciences department. “This question is particularly important now as we seek to quantify the human-induced impact on Earth’s climate.”
Made possible by a Federal Space Act Agreement, SCRC will foster collaboration between Earth-atmosphere and solar sciences at the two institutions. Opportunities will include a scientist exchange program between the organizations and the ability for postdoctoral scientists and graduate students in science, engineering and mission operations to move between LASP and Goddard. The partnership also will include international research symposia on sun-climate interactions.
“In recent years Goddard and LASP have worked together on several Earth and sun missions,” said Cahalan. “Now we look forward to continuing to drive growth in this key interdisciplinary field of sun-Earth research, bringing new focus to the study of multiyear changes in the sun and its influence on Earth’s climate.”
According to the center’s co-directors, the SCRC represents a rare and innovative step that underscores LASP’s ability to take its high-caliber research and program opportunities to a new level with Goddard.
“LASP has developed some remarkable areas of expertise that are key to studying the sun and its effect on climate and on human activities,” said LASP Director Daniel Baker. “By working with our colleagues at Goddard, we can leverage our skills and help take an important step toward greater cooperation between NASA centers and leading university research teams.”
For more information on LASP visit lasp.colorado.edu/home/. For more information on NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center visit www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/home/index.html.
Discover more from Watts Up With That?
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Correction: hat should be DSR not DLR.
Why do Englishmen say ‘Tier’, and not ‘Tire’, when they are happy saying ‘Centre’ and not ‘Center’? Just a thought.
Back on topic, I hope this research involves more measurements rather than just models. — John M Reynolds
You mean we don’t already know the Sun’s influence on the climate? How did we create all those models, then?
John Marshall says:
November 30, 2010 at 5:36 am (Edit)
John A has it right, NASA takes every opportunity to ‘prove’AGW and bin Svensmark’s theory, which I think is excellent and probably correct since it is based on observations of the real world not some model.
Observations of the real world like.
Little or no sunspots by eyeballing = very cold climate, it doesn`t matter whether you fully understand the mechanism the historicl facts speak for themselves and they are not proxies.
http://i446.photobucket.com/albums/qq187/bobclive/400yearsofsunspots.gif
Sorry – I must have missed something…
I thought the science was ‘settled’… nothing to see – move along – that sort of thing…
I REALLY hope you’re not telling me that – how can I put this politely – all the bullshit we’ve been fed over the last ten or so years is open to question..? That all the £billions we’re to spend in the UK over the next forty-odd years might – just MIGHT – be money wasted..??
Well – I’m truly amazed…
“new collaborative research center dedicated to the study of the sun’s effect on Earth’s climate.”
========================================================
But is that really necessary? Haven’t we already closed the books on what drives our climate? I mean really, the sun is so far away, I hardly think the contribution to our climate will be of any significance. Does anyone really think the sun has much to do with anything? </sarc
&#%^&#%^& Get with the $%!@ur momisugly#%^@ur momisugly! program! What is this, like a V8 moment? Ya think? Do GISS and CU think this is a novel approach? Its just now occurring to them that they may wish to investigate our largest source of light and heat in regards to our climate? Maybe we can give them the cliff notes of Copernicus to catch them up to at least the last millennium.
NASA investigating the suns effects on climate?
It’s a trap.
Pamela Gray says:
November 30, 2010 at 6:28 am
Not only do these “small” solar changes drive our changing climate, but they drive the climates of the other planets in our solar system, also.
Prediction: this solar project will “show” in two years or less what the data would need three solar cycles at the barest minimum in order to show a trend.
Two years’ data for a sun that has 200 year cycles containing shorter cycles within that time would be a bogus enterprise. This is a monumental waste of money which should be privately funded, like the SETI futility now is, after wasting taxpayers’ money for a long while.
Unless these good fellows wait at least 50 years before they open their mouths for an interim assessment. Yeah, they’ll wait that long!
And back at Jim Cooley—why do Englishmen (and Women) talk like Elmer Fudd? You wascally wapscallions you!
The influence [if any] of Sun on climate was recently reviewed here:
http://www.leif.org/EOS/2010GL045109.pdf
Leif Svalgaard says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
November 30, 2010 at 8:15 am
The influence [if any] of Sun on climate was recently reviewed here:
Wrong link. Here is the correct one
http://www.leif.org/EOS/2009RG000282.pdf
The Ghost Of Big Jim Cooley says:
November 30, 2010 at 5:13 am
Why do Americans say ‘Center’, and not ‘Centre’, when they are happy saying ‘Tire’ and not ‘Tier’? Just a thought from a Englishman.
[Reply] You say Tomarto I say Tomato
I suggest that it should be; You say Tomahto; I say Tomato.
Also, Big Jim; Why do the English say Umbreller instead of Umbrella?
Nearly every word ending in “a” is pronounced with an”er” on the end by Englishmen.
That is worse than a spelling variation. imho.
J.Hansford says:
November 30, 2010 at 5:58 am
The Ghost Of Big Jim Cooley says:
November 30, 2010 at 5:13 am
Why do Americans say ‘Center’, and not ‘Centre’, when they are happy saying ‘Tire’ and not ‘Tier’? Just a thought from a Englishman.
[Reply] You say Tomarto I say Tomato
====================================================
LOL…. er, that would be TYRE………;-)
But we get yer point.
====================================================
I for one am in no doubt that our American cousins speak better English than us. They know that the letter “H” is spelt aitch, not haitch, and they’re probably well aware of the word “tire” (look it up – clue: it’s a verb).
Let us hope these gentlemen apply the multiple working hypotheses and the most rigorous of deductive reasoning to their work. The geo and astro physics people are perhaps a little to fond of numeric models for my taste, however in the past they have been more circumspect in believing their results. Let us extend generous and sincere support but remain skeptical until we have results to evaluate.
” “This question is particularly important now as we seek to quantify the human-induced impact on Earth’s climate.””
Which means that any influence deduced from same study will be adduced as additve by nature.
But the bucks are already committed, so party on.
It is amazing how so called climate scientists are developing original ideas!
Isn’t the science on climate change (AGW) settled?
” “This question is particularly important now as we seek to quantify the human-induced impact on Earth’s climate.””
Which means that any influence deduced from same study will be adduced as additive by nature.
But the bucks are already committed, so party on.
Mmm, we need to get these solar scientists into the fold. We’ll offer them lots of money for solar physics papers related to climate change.
Leif Svalgaard says:
November 30, 2010 at 8:15 am
The influence [if any] of Sun on climate was recently reviewed here:
http://www.leif.org/EOS/2010GL045109.pdf
No proxies allowed, just real world observations.
This is not inconsistent with AGM models….
AGM, AGW, whatever….
Variable energy output from the sun
Variable sunspot activity
Variable Multiple cycle lengths of the sun daily yearly … 100K yrs
Variable distance – Earth from Sun
Variable tilt of the earths axis
Variable cosmic ray density intercepting earth
Variable stored energy in the earth oceans
Variable particulate content of the earth’s atmosphere (volcanic)
Variable composition of the atmosphere over time
Variable particulate content of the earth’s atmosphere (fires)
Variable CO2 content of the earths atmosphere (anthropogenic)
Variable CO2 content of the earth’s atmosphere (biological)
Variable CH4 content of earth’s atmosphere (anthropogenic)
Variable CH4 content of earths atmosphere (biological)
Variable water vapor content of the earth’s atmosphere (seasonal)
Variable snow pack coverage (seasonal)
Variable snow pack coverage (short and long cycles)
Variable sea ice coverage (seasonal)
Variable PDO / AMO cycles (Decades)
Variable geographic temperature responses to El Nino and La Nina
Variable cyclic drought and precipitation inputs (Seasonal decadal)
Variable temperature records depending on who is measuring and recording
Variable temperature data bases depending on data recording media
Variable point temperature records due to urban encroachment (time)
Variable temperature error bars due to differing equipment
Variable temperature database adjustments
Variable funding and research output on any particular variable above
Variable quality of published research
Variable historical records of temperature depending on variables measured
Variable politics
Variable economic output (CO2 CH4 etc)
Variable computer modeling results based on input variables
Variable interpretations of non quantitative historical records
Variable common sense
Variable number of variably important variables not on this list
= an almost infinite number of predictive earth temperature results depending on the weighting of the variables
#
John Marshall says:
November 30, 2010 at 5:36 am
John A has it right, NASA takes every opportunity to ‘prove’AGW and bin Svensmark’s theory, which I think is excellent and probably correct since it is based on observation of the real world not some model.
#
kramer says:
November 30, 2010 at 5:39 am
At this point in time, why would the sun’s effects on the earth’s climate need to be studied? I think this project is just going to look for ways to dismiss and/or diminish the sun’s effects.
#
Jason says:
November 30, 2010 at 7:54 am
NASA investigating the suns effects on climate?
It’s a trap.
#####
My thoughts exactly. NASA just wants more data to use to obfuscate. I give them six months to start generating press releases reporting paywalled “studies” that show increase global temps by compensating for a theorized inactive sun. “Its worse then we thought! The sun is hiding AGW”
Let’s drop the other Chu… LOL
“Chu countered that climate action would benefit the economy by opening up a new field in green technology.
But Chu also defended potential costs. He likened climate skeptics to homeowners who are repeatedly told to change wiring but keep looking for electricians to tell them they do not need to.
“Do you actually go and you say, well, okay, that’s a threat but I think it’s more cost-effective — I just make sure my fire insurance is up-to-date?” he said.”
Alexander K says: November 30, 2010 at 4:43 am
I clicked on the link provided by Tallbloke; I read as far as the name Beddington and an alarm went on to red alert! in my brain; my concentration failed and wouldn’t respond to a reboot. I will have to go back and read the link right through after I have had a quiet luncheon and a lie-down.)
———————————————————————————-
Alexander K. Me too! I read the lot and also got a similar reaction to this statement by Julia Slingo:
Julia Slingo, Met Office Chief Scientist said: “This is the first time that a group of universities has joined forces with a leading government organisation to form a cluster of research excellence aimed at accelerating science research to benefit society.
“This is just the start of what I hope will be an exciting joint venture and only one element of our collaborations, both here and overseas, aimed at maximising the benefit of the UK’s world-class expertise in weather forecasting and climate prediction.
Weasel words.
They are just widening the groupie network and distancing themselves from the poisonous UEA and Jones.
The old saying that leopards do not change their spots comes to mind.
Douglas